St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-23
A FAMILY OF DUELIsTs.
Ex-Governor Extra Billy Smith and Els
Two Fiery Sons.
The Governors Famous Duel With
State Senator Williams.
His Son Distinguished Himself in q
Duel With Editor E1am.

New York Sun.
Among the candidates talked about for
the success sion to Riddelbergers seat in the
senate is Ex-Governor Extra Billy"
Smith, of Fauquier county. He gets his
surname by his readiness at any time to
run fol- any office and the willingness, al
most amounting to eagerness, with which
he sought participation in duels, either as
principal or second. While he was gov
ernor OF Virginia, before the war, he was in
his prime. Then he sank into ''innocuous
deSuetude," until now he has been TeSur-
rected for the senatorship. And be it said
that he is as ready as ever to enter con-
test, although he is nearly ninety years old.
Extra Billy" has quite duelling record
and his sons have gained distinction IN the
same line In fact, the family. taken to-
gether, has done more fighting in the field
OF honor than perhaps any family in Vir-
ginia, Extra Billy himself, while stu.
dent at the university of Virginia, began
his career as an eXpounder of the code by
sending bullet through the wrist of fell
low student who had insulted him in the
class room. This incident gave him some
what OF reputation, and when he was
admitted to the bar and entered politics he
was treated with marked respect by his
political opponents. Along in 1916 he in
creased his reputation by his famous duel
with State Senator Williams This ia
| nous duel was the talk of Virginia at the
time, and it is well remembered by the old
| residents of this part Of the state. When
| the combatants faced each other Smith.
who was a crack shot, asked his opponent
| cody where he wanted to receive the bullet.
Anywhere you can put it" answered
William. defiantly.
Very WE'LL" said Smith, 81 know you
| can't hit me, and as l don't want to kill
you, Will only make it a flesh wound in
the shoulder-the right one"
When the smoke cleared away after the
first shot Smith stood smilingly examining
the barrel of his pistol, while Williams
weapon dropped to the ground and his
pistol arm hung bleeding and useless by
his side. An examination showed thaF
he had suffered flesh wound in the
right shoulder, just as his opponent an
nounced beforehand. In subsequent
duels Extra Bllly' invariably asked his
opponent where he wanted the bullet, and
complied with all the requests, EXCEPT in
one case, when ne severely wounded a
man who was good shot, and evidently
bent on killing. Still, Smith has never
Killed man, and has come forth I'M
scratched from all his fights. save for a.
broken finger he received on one occasion.
His eldest son. who is now United States
attorney for one of the territories, has a
duelling record, which, though not so long
as his fathers, is eventful. Besides par
ticpating as second in several affairs OF
honor and engaging in some bloodless fights
as principal, he distinguished himself a few
years ago by severely wounding W. c..
Elan. late editor of the Richmond Wing.
The duel is still fresh in the public memory.
1t occurred in an adjoining county, and was
as fierce an affair as Virginia has seen for
a long time. At the first shot neither
was hurt. A second shot resulted in a
triflng flesh wound to young Smith, who
persisted, however, in lighting it out. At
the third shot Elan received a disabling
wound in the hip from which he has not
recovered. When President Cleveland
nominated Smith to his present office his
duellng record was brought up by his enc
mics, but Mr.. Cleveland did not think it
outlawed man to go into the field Of
honor, and the senate did not find objec-
tions either.
A younger son has recently come forth as
crack shot. He has not yet got beyond
the honor of being second in duel. how
ever, but i'll that secondary position he
showed the qualities which mark him as a
worthy son of a worthy sire.